Lubricant dispensing device



March 16, 1943.

E. P. SUNDHOLM LUBRICANT DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1940.

INVENTOR.

UNITED STATE Patented Mar.16, 1943 mam a jnopnrcm msrnusnvo nirvrcn s, vii-m we and useful improvements in dispensing devicesfor filling grease-guns and the like, of the general type forming the subject matter of my copending applications, .Serial Nos. 236,281, filed October 21, 1938-(which matured into United States Patent No. 2,214,779 on September 17,

' 1940; 303,655, filed November 9, 1939; 319,386, filed February 17, 1940 '(whichl matured into United States Patent No. 2,286,827 onDecember 23, 1941); and 303,658. filed November 9," 1 339.

(which matured into United States Patent No. 2,239,581 on April 22, 1941) i One of the objects of. the present i'nventionis to render the grease dispensing devices of the character stated, more dependable and to free them of a certain hazard heretofore obtaining.

Thus, in handling. and shipping the empty devices prior to being filled with grease or lubricant or the like, as well as in handling, shipping and storing these devices after they are filled with grease or the like, but priorto ultimate use,

'there is a tendency to loosen the follower-plate fromthe lid and thus to drop the follower-plate from the supporting screw extending through the,

' while held in close proximity to each other by the retaininz screw which extends through the vent dome of the lid. The present invention further consists of other features and details of construction as will appear For'the purposeo'f illustrating'the'invention,

"there is shown in the accompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of i which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is n'ot limited to the precise arrangements and I organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.v

Figure 1 represents a vertical crcss sectional view of thegrease dispensing device em "use lid, to the bottom Of the device. Thisls 0008- sioned by repeated Jarringand handling because the follower-plate is more or less free to revolve.

If the follower-plate is so loosened and dropped t to the bottom before filling, then there isthe hazard of the filling operator filling the grease into the can on top of the follower, thereby renis noticed in time, it still involves an extra operation-of inverting the device and shaking the dering the follower-plate useless, and if the defect follower-platecut of the device and then screwing it into placeon the lid. If the follower-plate is so detached from the lid after the device has been'fllled withgrease but while the device is stillin'storage ortransit and prior to being put into use,then there is a tendency for the grease to come over the top surface of the follower-plate and for the follower-plate to be tilted edge-wise and perhaps to sink edge-wise more or less through the body of the grease, thus rendering.

the followe'rplate ineffective.

The object of the present invention is' -to mini- Q mize if not indeed to eliminate this hazard.

With the above object in view,.the present invention consists of a novel form of construction in the lid or upperrwall of the container and in. thepiston-like follower member, whereby such mechanical interlock or inter-engagement is obtained between the two as to prevent the relative rotation of one with respect to the other the present inventionhwith part of it broken away so as to reduce the vertical height of the figure, and shown in the condition in which the device is shipped and stored and prior to actual Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

3 Figure 3 rename a top eievauonai view of i the follower. p

t Figure 4' represents a fragmentary side elevational view. of theside of the container showing the serrated or tabbediperipheral edge of the i lid.

vention includesa generally cylindrical body I of suitable diameter and 'heightft'o provide the.

desired volumetric capacity, and a bottom 8 having an opening 1 preferablycentrally thereof, although the opening may be of! center and nearer to the point. For instance,for an effective twenty-five .pound capacity the diameter of ten inchesand a height of twelve inches is suitable,

and so 011.

The entire container may be formedof sheet tnetal, preferably suitable sheet-steel similar to 45 gauge according to the size of the container, but

that used for steel drums, and of a suitable preferably tempered or drawn to have some resiliency or springinesa- The thicknesses shown in the drawing are exaggerated for purposes of more readyillustrationfiother thin or light weight form' retainlng sheet-materials may be used, as for instance, hard, form-retaining fibrous (or non-fibrous) sheet materials suitably impregnated or otherwise: compounded with greaseand oil resistant ingredients. 7

w more fully from'the followingdetailed description.

p The grease-dispensing device of the present in-.

The bottom 6 is preferably formed with a flange 8 of suitable depth to clear the lateral conduit 9 and gun-receiving socket Ill which will be described more fully hereinafter, thus forming a downwardly cupped member or inverted cupshaped member. The flange 8 of the inverted cup-like bottom is of an external diameter such as to telescope into the lower end of the cylindrical body and is preferably drawn from the same sheet of metal as that of which the bottom 6 is formed, as for instance, by being drawn in a die on a suitable press, or by any other suitable drawing or forming operation. The flange 6 may then be turned and folded and crimped or double-seamed along with the lower peripheral edge of the cylindrical body 5, to form a crimped and interlapping bead-like seam or doubleseam" H with the lower peripheral edge of the cylindrical body 5, which seam thus unites the flange 8 with the corresponding lower portion of the cylindrical body 5, and which, at the same time, secures the bottom 6 permanently in place in fluid sealed relation to the body 5. The bottom 6 may also be held in place in a raised position by other means, as for instance, by welding it in place to the side-wall of the body 5 or by forming an outwardly pressed slight annular or peripheral groove in the body 5 at a suitable height above the lower extremity thereof into which the outer marginal portion of the bottom 6 may extend, to be held inplace thereby. Likewise, the bottom 6 may have but a short downwardly extending flange which may be spotwelded to the side of the body 5. l

in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transverse bottom conduit is formed by pressing suitable channel-shaped depression 26 out of the bottom 6 of the device, but integrally therewith, and then superimposing a flat plate 21 over said depression 26 and spotwelding it, fusing it, soldering it, or otherwise securing it to the bottom 6 along the marginal Zone around the depression 26. In this preferred form of construction, the flat plate 21 may contain the central opening 1 as indicated in Figure 1, or the opening may be located off center but spaced inwardly from the side-wall 5 of the device. The opening i may also be formed by cutting the plate 21 shorter than the depression 26 so that the inner end of the depression 26 extends beyond the inner end of the plate 27.

A preferably circular boss 63 is pressed outwardly out of the side wall ofthe reservoir 5 in a zone partly above and partly below the level of the bottom 6 of the reservoir in the manner indicated particularly in Figurel, said boss having a flat end wall 64.

Intermediate the outer end of the depressed channel 26 and the adjacent part of the depending flange B of the bottom of the reservoir,

the metal is folded back upon itself as at l2, as.

indicated more particularly in Figure l. The cover plate 21, which is secured (as for instance, byspot welding) to the bottom 6 along the marginal zone of the channel-shaped depression '26, is provided at its outer end with a downwardly depending skirt 29. the outermost portions of which are disposed adjacent to the periphery of the reservoir, while the central portion of which is extended outwardly to meet the inner surface of the flat part 64 of the boss 63. An elongated opening 13 is provided in the downwardly depending skirt 29 for alignment and registration with thecorresponding opening M in the boss. I

flange 33 at one end. At a point spaced from the projecting lug inturned flange 33, an inwardly 34 is provided. I

The circular base plate 66 is preferably a flat piece of sheet steel of suitable rigidity and has within it the elongated opening 46 corresponding to the openings l3 and I4 and the generally tubular crimping flange 68 drawn therefrom by a suitable punching die operation; the dimension and contour of the flange 68 being such as to fit neatly into the openings l4 and 13.

The diameter of the base plate 66 is such as neatly to fit within the inner clear diameter of the ring IS with just suflicient clearance to permit the free rotation of the ring l5 about the outer circular periphery of the base plate 66.

The base plate 66 is then inserted into the ring i5 past the lug 34' thereof (by angling the J plate. 66) and, with the base plate 66 and ring l5 so assembled in relation to each other, the crimping flange 68 of the base plate 66 is inserted through the opening H in the boss-face 64 and through the opening l3 in the depending skirt portion 29 of the cover plate 21. This is done before the bottom 6 (with its flange 8 and channel 26) has been brought together with the cylindrical or body portion 5 of the reservoir, so that upon the insertion of the crimping flange 68 through the holes I4 and IS, the inner end of the crimping flange 68 may be flared over or crimped over as at 69 (see Figures 1, 2 and-3), thereby forming a fluid-tight seal from the passagewa the opening 46 in the base plate. The base plate 66 is also firmly secured to the boss-face 64 by spot-welding orriveting the two together at a suitable number ripheral zone of the base plate 66 in an outward direction and the inner offset portion of the boss in an outward direction.

Thereupon, the bottom unit 6 including the flange 8 and the channel 26 is telescoped into the bottom of the body 5 of the reservoir and united thereto by the crimped annular seam H. Thereafter, the plate 21 is secured to the bottom 6 by spot-welding, soldering, riveting in the marginal zone of the plate 21.

The rotatable disc 43 is of the same diameter as the stationary base plate 66. The disc 43 has a central pivot hole 38 and an off-center porthole 39 of the same general contour as the hole 46 in the base plate 66. The rotatable disc 43 is then inserted in place as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 with th lug 34 projectinginto the notch 9 (thereafter formed by combination with the channel 26) and ,threbyto cause the ring i rotateinunison.

Aslieetmetal pivot and fastening member 52, is inserted intothe. hole 38 of the rotatable disc 43; andfwelded in place onto the base plate 68 by spot-welding, soldering, riveting or otherwise securing at one or more welded, soldered or riveted points] This serves tollock the rotatable disc 43 in place without interfering, howeven with its.

rotation.

2,813,845 and disc 43 to,

about said dome 90. I then provide a similar rib or ribs 16 pressed outwardly from the conical portion of the vent-dome 23, into which the. rib or ribs I5 are adapted to nest when the two conical portions of the dome 8 0 and 22 are held in telescopic or nested relation to eachother by the 10 The sealing gasket 32 is then inserted in the position shown in Figure 1.- A

Turningthe ring ii, in one direction will cause a rotation of the ring l5 and ofthe disc 43 in the same direction until the hole 29 is in substantial registration with the hole and the fluid maythus freely flow throughthe holes 45 and 29. into the socket IlL Reversed turning shuts the passage.

A plug 111 may be inserted'into the ring- I:

when the device is not in use, or when the device I is in transit or storage.

The upper end of the cylindrical portion I of the reservoir device is preferably flared outwardly as at". The upper periphery of the reservoir is preferably beaded or flared as at 88. The lid i 221s preferably provided with a flange B9 crimped over the bead 8B of. the body 5, thereby to secure tightening of the screw 2, as indicated in Figu l y'this meansthe lid 22 and the follower If! are held against relative rotation at all times prior v to the ultimate of the device and during the loosening ofgthe lid by the turning of the screw 24. As the device is made up, the crimp flan e ll is not crimped'into place about the bead 88, so

that the lid22. toiwhich the follower I! is thensecured, may be removed from the body I. The

greaseis then fllled in to the .body I and the lid superimposed: and, crimped in place in fluidsealed relation, by use of the gasket 10. a

If desired, however, the lid 22 maybe initially permanently fastened to the body I, and the grease-filled into the container through the passage ll, merely by attaching a flllingpipe to the 7 socket l0 while the socket ring I! is in the open thelid .22 more or less permanently to the body I. An annular sealing gasketor other sealing means 10. is interposed between the crimped' flange 89 of the lid 22 and the bead 88 of the body 5. l The tum-over flange or crimp-flange 89 is preferably serrated along its marginal zone a x to provide tabs H which may be bent up to loosen the lid if desired. 1

The lid 22 ispreferably provided with a raised portion or dome 23 pressed outwardly fromthe body of the lid 22, preferably to a height slightly greater-1 than the uppermostperipheral portion of the lid. A hole is provided in the upper part oi the raised portion 23 through which a screw 24 is adapted to extend. The follower plate I! may be provided with a slight flange "of a diameter giving a slight clearance in relation to the inner diameter-of the body 5 of the reservoir. To the upper surface of the follower ID a generally inverted: cup-shaped sheet metal dome-like memtherefore desired that the present embodiment be bot 9 0, having a lateral flange 9| and a central screw-threaded hole 92, is secured by spot-welding, soldering, crimping, or otherwise securing the flange 9| thereof to the followerplate I 9. By engaging the screw 24 in the hole the follower plate It may be held in an inoperative position against the lid 22 when the the device is not in use, as for instance, when the device is in storage orln transit. By unscrewing thescrew 24, the

' follower plate I 9 is released onto the top surface SI of the fluid within the reservoir and at the same time a vent is formed through the raised dome part 23. i v

The follower plate I9 is preferably provided with pressed-up stiflening ribs 13, and an annularperipheral stiffening rib 14.

In order to prevent the lid from being loosened from the screw 24, by vibration while in transit or storage and during handling (either while the container is new and empty, or after it has been filled with grease but prior to ultimate use) and in order to keep the follower from turning when the screw 26 is turned in order to unscrew position, and then turning the socket ring to the closed position and inserting the plug 81 into the ring. With this type of fllling operation, the lid considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being hadto theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. i

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: g

1. A fluid-dispensing device suitable for filling grease-guns and. the like and suitable for use as -an original vendable merchandising packaging.

unit for containing mor or less viscous greases and like fluids in transit and storage and for (thereafter dispensing the same, including a gen- ,erally upright reservoir body having side-wall,

bottom and top; together forming a generally completely enclosed reservoir, 9, suction-receiving socket carried by said reservoir near the bottom thereof and being in communicable relation with unit for containing more or less viscous greases.

the lid, I provide a radial rib 15 pressed out from r the conical portion of the dome-like projection carried by the follower l9, or I may provide several such ribs circumferentially distributed the interior of said reservoir, a follower beneath said top and adapted to be secured to said top prior to the ultimate use of the device, co-axial fastening means for supporting said follower from said top, and means for locking said follower and i said top relative to each other against relative rotation with respect to each other.

2. Afluid-dispensing device suitable for filling grease-guns and the like and suitable for use as an original vendsable merchandising packaging and like fluids in transit and storage and for thereafter dispensing the same, including a geni erally upright reservoir body having side-wall bottom and top; together forming a generally completely enclosed reservoir, :1. suction-receiving socket carried by said reservoir near the bottom thereof and being in communicable relation with the interior of said reservoir, a follower beneath said top and adapted to be secured to said top prior to the ultimate use of the device, a vent dome extending upwardl from said top having an aperture therethrough, a corresponding projection carried by said follower and adapted to extend into said dome, a complementary projection and depression carried by said dome and said follower-projection and adapted to nest in each other when said vent dome and said follower projection are-held in telescopic relation'to each other, and aserew extending through the aperture in said vent dome and threadedly. engaging said follower projection within said dome, for retaining the two in close proximity to eachotherr 3. A fluid-dispensing device suitable for filling grease-guns. and the like and suitable for use as -an'original' vendable merchandising packaging unit for containing more or less viscous greases and like fluids in'transit anci storage and for thereafter dispensing the same, including a generally upright reservoir body having side-wall;

bottom and top; together forminga generally completely enclosed reservoir, a suction-receiving socket carried by said'reservoir near the bottom thereof and being in communicable relation with the interior of said reservoir, a followerbeneath said top and adapted to be secured to said top prior to the ultimate use ofthe device, an aper top, a similar dome extending upwardly from said l0 tured vent dome extending upwardlyfrom said follower and adaptedto telescope into said vent dome and having a. screw-receiving opening therein in alignment with the aperture of said vent dome; said'follower dome being fused to said fol-.

lower and said follower being generally imperferate,- and anti-rotational EDWIN P. SUNDHOLM.

interlocking means for preventing relative rotation between follower and 

